HUNTING GROUNDS OF FLORIDA. 107 
the town of that name. The country in the vicinity of Lake 
Okeechobee was at that time filled with game. 
Deer, turkeys, cranes, and alligators were very numerous. Quail 
and snipe were to be had in numbers, although they were as not 
plenty as they are sometimes farther north, in the country about 
Lake Kissimmee. Ducks were not numerous and were confined to 
two or three species. 
Southeast from Fort Myers about seventy-five miles, lies the Big 
Cypress Swamp, which is the hunting ground of the Seminole 
Indians. This is to-day one of the best localities in Florida for all 
kinds of large game. The advent of the white man is not looked 
upon with favor by the Indians, and they do not encourage his 
presence in what they believe to be their country. The best way to 
get to the Big Cypress hunting grounds is by wagon from Fort 
Myers; but I am informed it may also be reached by going up the 
Chockeloskee River as far as it is navigable by boat and then mak- 
ing a ‘‘carry” of about three miles. I have never made this trip 
and cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information. 
After the middle of April the mosquitoes become very troublesome 
on the Keys; but the weather is most delightful, and the fishing im- 
proves with the warm weather. Northwestern Florida is rarely 
visited by the sportsman, but those who have hunted in that portion 
of the State claim that game is abundant. Ducks and beach birds 
are at times plenty in the vicinity of St. Joseph’s Bay and also about 
Santa Rosa Island and Pensacola Bay. Turkeys and deer are 
claimed to be very abundant in some of the counties to the north of 
Cedar Keys, but they are rarely visited and there is little accommo- 
dation for the traveler. At present such fine shooting may be had 
in places easy of access that there is little to tempt one to explore 
these out-of-the-way localities; but a day will come when North- 
western Florida will have to be sought by the hunter who desires 
good sport. 
In the vicinity of Tallahassee the country and climate is delight- 
ful, and fair quail shooting is to be had within driving distance of 
the city. Farther to the west, however, deer and turkeys are 
